Shang Dynasty Controversy
The Shang Dynasty was an empire that had its capital located at the Ruins of Yin near the Yellow River, or present day Anyang in China. North China Plain was also the former location of the first dynasty known as the Xia and of the Zhou Dynasty, succeeding the Shang. There’s a controversy relating to its chronology, which varies from 1600 to 1046 BCE according to the Bamboo Annals and Records of the Grand Historian texts (1).
They had a complex political structure through social hierarchy with the king being the priority, followed by other social classes (2). One of these groups included the respected military that frequently fought in wars with neighboring tribes to establish power (1). Polytheistic Religion was vital to the Shang, so mainly
priests practiced rituals connecting them to the spiritual world. Since they cherished the afterlife, royal tombs were found with paintings on the walls while the bodies were covered in an abundance of precious stones (2). They often lived in timber houses constructed of wattle walls and straw roofs that had integrated flood control and irrigation (2). This society also innovated a 30-day per 12-month calendar system for agriculture, which transitioned them from a hunter/gatherer lifestyle to the domestication of grains such as wheat and rice and animals like sheep and pigs (3).
There was a major discovery oracle bones that were made from turtle shells or cattle bones. These had inscriptions portraying symbols that later evolved into characters, making this civilization the first to create the Chinese writing system (1). Being part of the Bronze Age influenced the Shang to produce prestigious bronze artifacts. They used the piece-mold casting method to easily craft detailed engravings in their work. The distinctive pieces involve weapons, chariots, ceremonial vessels, jewelry, ornaments, and musical instruments (4).
They had a complex political structure through social hierarchy with the king being the priority, followed by other social classes (2). One of these groups included the respected military that frequently fought in wars with neighboring tribes to establish power (1). Polytheistic Religion was vital to the Shang, so mainly
priests practiced rituals connecting them to the spiritual world. Since they cherished the afterlife, royal tombs were found with paintings on the walls while the bodies were covered in an abundance of precious stones (2). They often lived in timber houses constructed of wattle walls and straw roofs that had integrated flood control and irrigation (2). This society also innovated a 30-day per 12-month calendar system for agriculture, which transitioned them from a hunter/gatherer lifestyle to the domestication of grains such as wheat and rice and animals like sheep and pigs (3).
There was a major discovery oracle bones that were made from turtle shells or cattle bones. These had inscriptions portraying symbols that later evolved into characters, making this civilization the first to create the Chinese writing system (1). Being part of the Bronze Age influenced the Shang to produce prestigious bronze artifacts. They used the piece-mold casting method to easily craft detailed engravings in their work. The distinctive pieces involve weapons, chariots, ceremonial vessels, jewelry, ornaments, and musical instruments (4).